HUMAN

Name: Odd Thygesen

Age: 42

Residence: Oslo, Norway

Occupation:  This is my first

Years involved with Iditarod: Since 2002

Iditarod role: Making a national TV series about mushing, following Thomas Verner, Lance Mackey, the Barrington twins 

Current Location:Galena, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 15, 2020
Temperature: 28F/Outdoors

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

I got involved with Iditarod because my employer wanted to make a TV series about mushing in general. And then, we found out that Iditarod is the biggest event in the world. I’m following three different teams on this race, not specifically about how they are doing the competition; more how they’re doing it because the show that I’m filming will be airing in a year from now. So, who won is not that important. It’s more into how they live their lives with the mushing and the dogs and not sleeping and all those things.

What is your Why?..Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?

I’m here today and involved with Iditarod because basically I’m doing this TV series. I live in Norway. I have never been in Alaska. It’s been a childhood dream since I was very small. I think Alaska is one of the coolest places to be. And when my employer said, “Would it go to Iditarod and film it and do it by a small airplane?” It’s kind of a dream come true, and I’ll even get to get paid for it. So, it’s a very cool opportunity to see the country.

Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences?

One of my most memorable Iditarod experience on this trip was probably when we landed the plane on the middle of the Yukon and took up the drone and I got some really, really nice footage of Lance Mackey going all by himself on the big river towards Unalakleet, I think.

What do you know for sure?:

What I know about for sure in life is that nothing is for sure. On this road trip for me, it’s been a challenging thing because, back in Europe, they’re all closing down schools and the whole Norway is closed. I don’t know even if I go back home. I might stay here for weeks or months. So, that’s one of the things that you don’t know for sure. And nothing, you have to take one day at a time because maybe I’ll be stuck here in Alaska for a couple of weeks or months. So, that’s one thing I know for sure. You take each day as it comes and you can’t predict the future.